Skip to main content

tv   ABC World News Now  ABC  July 21, 2011 2:05am-4:00am PDT

2:05 am
stylish and innovative products your pet and you... ...will love. available exclusively at petsmart. happiness in store.™ since time began. not anymore. ♪ fiber one is bringing brownies back. at 90 calories, the only thing between you and chocolaty brownies ♪ new fiber one 90 calorie brownies. in the granola bar aisle.
2:06 am
>> ♪ 25 >> it was one of the first times i was on "the oprah show." i almost had an out-of-body experience. i'm looking at oprah, and i'm fascinated because i know i'm watching someone very special, someone who was doing exactly what they were meant to do. when i ran the
2:07 am
marathon with oprah--i'll never forget--it was mile 25. i turn around, and tears are streaming out of oprah's eyes, and in that moment, what i was feeling was, every mile that she trained and everything that she went through to break down the barriers to reach that goal, she was feeling at that moment. oprah: fitness expert bob greene, who is not just a fitness expert. he's my brothe brother. >> we're family. she is a sister to me, no question about it. i know that we're in each other's life for the rest of our lives. she's taught me how to live an impassioned life. oprah, i'm gonna tell you something that you already know, and that is, you mean the world to me, and while we're saying good-bye to the show, i welcome the next phase of your life with excitement because we're all looking forward to seeing what
2:08 am
that brings. great things are about to come. oprah: bob, that's so sweet of you. oh. that's the nicest thing you've said to me. >> i know, and i had to do it on tape. why can't i just do it like this? oprah: yeah. why can't you do it in person? i don't know, but that was very nice. everyone in this audience is going home with bob's new book... [cheering and applause] "20 years younger," in stores now, and for all of you here and watching at home, you can sign up on bob's brand-new website called 20yearsyounger.com. it's a step-by-step, easy-to-use on-line guide where you can do what these 20 women have done t' work all 4 pillars of bob's plan into your daily life using bob and bob's dream team. so you can do it at home, too. thank you to our 20-years-younger dream team, and thank you, ultimate viewers.
2:09 am
keep up the great work. i'm so proud of you. because you all were able to do it, it means we all can do it, too. so thank you. thank you. thanks, brother bob. bye, everybody. that was great. [captioning made possible by king world] [captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org--] ♪ [ female announcer ] sweet honey taste. 80 calories per serving. 40daily value of fiber. i'm here in the downtown area where the crowd is growing. [ female announcer ] watching calories at breakfast never tasted this sweet... i'll go get my bowl. [ female announcer ] ...or this huge. new fiber one 80 calories. yes, you can actually love breakfast. gift tossing, an obstacle
2:10 am
course, and even a bumper car race. >> how about that. in the end, team denmark bagged the coveted best santa team trophy. no word yet if that trophy comes with milk and cookies. i'm sure it does. >> got t tleave that for santa. there is no santa, by the way. i don't know if you know that. >> what if there's young children watching, peggy? more "world news now" when we come back. that was cruel. that was cruel. let me tell you about a very important phone call i made. when i got my medicare card, i realized i needed an aarp... medicare supplement nsurance card, too. medicare is one of the great things about turning 65, but it doesn't cover everything. in fact, it only pays up to " 80% of your part b expenses.
2:11 am
if you're already on or eligible for medicare, call now to find out how an aarp... insured by unitedhealthcare insurance company, not paid by medicare part b. that can save you from paying .up to thousands of dollars... out of your own pocket. these are the only medicare supplement insurance plans... exclusively endorsed by aarp. when you call now, you'll get this free information kit... with all you need to enroll. put their trust in aarp p medicare supplement insuranc. plus you'll get this free guide to understanding medicare. the prices are competitive. i can keep my own doctor. and i don't need a referral o see a specialist. call now to get a free information kit. plus you'll get this free guide to understanding medicare. and the advantages don't end there. choose from a range of medicare r supplement plans... that are all competitively priced. we have a plan for almost everyone, so you can find one that fits r your needs and budget. with all medicare supplement plans,
2:12 am
there are virtually p no claim forms to fill out. plus you can keep that accepts medicare. p your own doctor and hospital and best of all, these plans are... when they told me these plans were endorsed by aarp... i had only one thing to say... sign me up. and find out about an aarp medicare supplement insurance plan. you'll get this free information kit... as with all medicare supplement plans, you can keep your own doctor and hospital that accepts # medicare, call this toll-free number now.
2:13 am
well, to many they were the epitome of evil. we're talking about two adorable little girls. but they were singing songs of hate. and that was about five years ago. >> that's right.
2:14 am
but now the former neo-nazis say who and what they were was a mistake. as abc's juju chang reports, they now have some new beliefs. ♪ white survival strike force >> reporter: who could forget these young, blond-haired, blue-eyed darlings. we first introduced you to twins lamb andndynx five years ago. the young budding pop stars had released their second album. but these adorable freckle-faced twins weren't singing songs of love but songs of hate. ♪ a holy creed of racial purpose is a mighty race to defend ♪ >> reporter: now at age 19, the young duo formerly known as prussian blue say they've changed their neo-nazi ways. saying to abc news, "i'm grown up now. i was a little kid back then and said a lot of things i don't believe in now." the girls say moving to montana and attending public school has truly opened their eyes and given them new perspectives on life. "my sister and i were home-schooled.
2:15 am
we were these country bumpkins. it makes me proud of humanity every day that we have so many different places and people." it's a far cry from a then-14-year-old lynx who shuddered at the thought of diversity. >> we don't want it. just be a big muddle. we just want to preserve our race. >> reporter: the twins say they're quite liberal now, embracing medical marijuana after lynx was diagnosed with cancer freshman year and lamb sought relief from back pain and scoliosis. for lynx and lamb, grooming into white supremacy started at birth. they were nurtured on racist beliefs by their mother april, who is unapologetic about her parenting and her beliefs. >> we were christians, they would be singing christian rock songs. but we're not, we're white nationalists. so of course that's a part of our life and i'm -- i share that part of my life with my children. >> reporter: but today, april believes the girls are just falling into peer pressure. they're saying what everyone wants to hear so they won't be harassed anymore. let's face it, it's not popular
2:16 am
to be a white separatist. and they want to be popular. the girls, however, say this is who they are. and that time, experience, and love has changed them for the better. lamb says, we just want to come from a place of light and love. i think we're meant to do something more. we're healers. we just want to exert the most love and positivity we can. >> you have to worry about backlash. they're saying there's dangerous people in white nationalism, they would do awful things to people who they think betrayed the movement. they're worried about some backlash. >> it definitely goes to show when you grow up and start to develop your own idea about things as opposed to being little girls who were maybe doing what they were told and getting involved in something they didn't understand the full scope of. >> the strong influence of parenting and the strong influence of life once you get out of that bubble. deep story. we'll lighten the mood a little bit when we come back. we need to. coming up, the "grey's anatomy" star and why he's going to rehab for just a week. >> does that work, just one week, git'er done?
2:17 am
>> i don't know, fast food rehab. also a big stinknkso to speak, involving britney spears. good thing "the skinny" is not airing on smell-o-vision. to speak, involving britney spears. good thing "the skinny" is not airing on smell-o-vision.fd
2:18 am
2:19 am
♪ skinny, so skinny and time now for "the skinny" this morning. starting off "the e inny" with a little steamy. we're talking about mcsteamy. >> sorry, ladies. sorry. >> first there was mcdreamy and of course eric dane who is known as mcsteamy for obvious reasons because he's super-hot. he apparently has a problem with painkillers. is it hot in here? here he is right there. there's mcsteamy right now. he's going to go to rehab for one week. he's taking some time off while they are not shooting the sh "grey's anatomy." he's going to get help with painkillers which a lot of the country has an issue with pain killers. it's a big issue. >> massive issue, yeah. >> it's a really big issue. so he's going to an l.a. rehab clinic. he says that he'e'checked himself in to get off the pain medication that he was prescribed for a sports injury that he suffered on hiatus. >> just a week? i didn't know you could specify going into rehab how long it would take -- i thought when you're good you can get back out.
2:20 am
now i need to be out by saturday, going to vegas. >> fix me and send me home in about 20 minutes. that would be nice. drive-through rehab, perhaps. >> the hollywood way. we've all talked about the messy split between j. lo and marc anthony. >> much speculation. >> a lot of details starting to spill out now. the interesting thing here is j. lo's mom, according to "us weekly," guadalupe rodriguez reached out to guess who, j. lo's former fiance ben affleck. mom was always very fond of ben and reached out to him over e-mail. this is what multiple sources have told "us weekly." sources say she wanted advice for jennifer. she always liked and trusted ben. he replied back in an e-mail, wished her well, offered what he could. the messy details coming out about the marriage really making marc anthony look bad. saying he was jealous and controlling, heated fights, just messy. now it's over. but mom reaching out to the ex-man which is an interesting move. >> i have no inside scoop on this but i would be really mad if my mom were to e-mail an ex and say -- i would imagine that
2:21 am
would make me very upset. we're hearing j. lo is very upset. >> ben didn't know. you know what i mean? >> does guadalupe know ben's married and has two kids? let's talk about britney. we haven't talked about britney in quite a long time. apparently there's a stinky problem going on with britney spears. earlier today, one of britney's formerly employed bodyguards has released a statement saying basically she was completely lewd and unhygienic in front of him, very disturbing for this person. specifically, he's alleging she blatantly picked her nose, refused to shower sometimes for three to four days at a time, did not brush her teeth, also had a big flatulence problem. >> you're so polite, so polite. poor britney, man, leave britney alone, everybody gets a little gassy. >> remember when she went to the gas station with no shoes on in the bathroom? >> that was a low point. that was a low point. all right. real quick here. will and kate doing their whirlwind north american tour. apparently they flew home on british airways, public flight, and they got reimbursed 300 bucks because their
2:22 am
entertainment system actually broke during the flight. they got reimbursed 300 bucks. he money. how do you get your bounce?
2:23 am
2:24 am
oh, i'm a forgetter. i tend to forget things all the time. so, i'm a bar person. i don't need to remember the dryer sheet, so if i forget, i'm still good. woman: (shouting) remember the bar! woohoo! whoa. haircolor is a chore no more! you gotta come see what's new. c'mon! tadaaa! welcome to haircolor heaven. aa-ah-ahhh! courtesy of new nice 'n easy colorblend foam. permanent, dimensional color, now in a delightful foam! just three shakes, foam it, love it! simply saturate hair root to tip, front to back. with tones and highlights. it's foamtastic!
2:25 am
home haircolor, make room for foam haircolor! new nice 'n easy colorblend foam. your right color. here are some stories to watch today on abc news. espn is reporting that the nfl labor deal could be approved very soon. it would take a majority vote of the players to ratify the deal and that could happen asoon as today. recovery crews at yosemite national park will return to the raging river near a waterfall to search for three missing tourists. they were swept away when they got too close to that waterfall. >> as the final shuttle mission comes to a close at kennedy space center, it will be a bittersweet moment for nasa. as "atlantis" lands and astronauts say good-bye, many laid-off workers will also be saying good-bye to their jobs. >> end of an era that's happening this morning. we will be watching that closely.
2:26 am
finally, before this week, wendi deng was known as the wife of billionaire rupert murdoch. that was before the smack heard round the world. >> she's quick, man. >> she used to play volleyball, we can tell. >> she spiked that dude. now she is a global sensation for taking a swing at her husband's would-be attacker. is it something every spouse would do? with the answer here is abc's bianna golodryga. >> reporter: who needs a bodyguard when your wife can do this? the shaving cream pie rocketing straight for billionaire rupert murdoch's head. his wife to the rescue. the right hook seen around the world. she was even faster than the police officer. you can see him running in on your right. jimmy kimmel with a different angle. the wife beating everyone, from the queen to spongebob, to the hamburglar. laughing aside, don't mess with her. 38 years his junior, rupert murdoch's third wife is a former volleyball champ. even late night imagining what else she's capable of. and today across america, the inevitable question.
2:27 am
would your wife do the same? >> she would take a pie for me and not rupert murdoch. i'm good with that. >> i don't know if i would freeze or maybe my automatic reaction wouldld be to defend h. >> i think she should protect me. you know? >> reporter: are you offended? >> a little bit. >> if this was your kid or even a pair of nice shoes? what do you think? >> you brought in the nice shoes. of course i'd go and defend them. >> reporter: the wives who would are flocking to facebook by the thousands. wendi has a new fan club page growing almost as fast as her right hook. bianna golodryga, abc news, new york. >> she's famously known for the right hook. also she came over as a young student and lived with a family that took her in to teach her english and ended up marrying the husband in that family. she does have a past. >> they have two daughters together, wendi and murdoch. 10 and 8 years old, two kids. his divorce from his second wife cost him almost $2 billion, the most expensive divorce on
2:28 am
record. ne
2:29 am
2:30 am
this morning on "world news now," record heat. it is not only oppressive, it is daerous and deadly. >> the giant dome of heat that is baking a huge portion of the country is now blamed for nearly two dozen deaths. it's thursday, july 21st. >> announcer: from abc news, this is "world news now." >> good morning, everybody, i'm rob nelson. >> and i'm peggy bunker. chicago may be suffering the most in this intense heat. at one point, thousands ofof customers had no power at all. and that, of course, means no air conditioning. as demand for electricity went skyrocketing through the roof, now that hellish air mass is heading east to bake millions of people on our part of the coast. >> new york's going to be rough today. >> it is. >> maybe heat index 110 or something like that. >> it's not so bad when you get
2:31 am
a day or two of it and then get a break. it seems like every single day it continues. >> stay home if you can, folks, stay in the ac at least. after rupert murdoch's memorable day of testimony, britain's prime minister was verbally hammered in parliament as lawmakers demand answers about his connections to that ongoing phone-hacking scandal. the ripple -- it's every part of life. law enforcement, politics, media, everyone's ensnared in this thing. >> it does seem like there's a lot of favors, a lot of the behind the scenes money passing hands which is why this scandal continues to spread, of course. >> very cozy relationships. >> indeed, that's true. also coming up later this half hour in our "morning papers," a special and personal announcement for our viewers so be sure to stay tuned for that, we'll let you know what's going on behind the scenes. >> we've had several personal announcements on the show. so one more today. we'll get to that the end of the half hour. but we begin with the dangerous heat that has trapped millions of americans in a week-long steam bath.
2:32 am
>> we're talking about the sweltering heat wave that is now covering a huge area from texas to georgia. and also from minnesota to maine. abc's t.j. winick has the latest. good morning, t.j. >> reporter: good morning, rob and peggy. here in new york city the mercury continues to climb steadily with a temperature expected to max out in tririple digits on friday. the heat wave blanketing much of the country isn't just oppressive, it's a killer. since last friday, the weather has set at least 221 records. in minnesota, the heat index hit 134 degrees. in chicago, lake beaches reopened after a thick fog caused by the heat closed down all but one. an excessive heat warning runs through 4:00 a.m. friday. >> the water's nice and cool. so it's nice to be out early. and it's not crowded. >> reporter: to make things worse, 2,100 residents just outside the windy city are dealing with power outages. translation, no air conditioning. felecia is taking refuge in her basement. >> my lower level of the house is a little bit cooler. i just try not to go upstairs. >> reporter: con ed crews were
2:33 am
working on outages. in iowa blistering heat buckled i-380. extreme heat expanding metal and concrete caused eight water main breaks in oklahoma city. across the northeast the hot, hot temperatures are just beginning to set in. still, many outdoor jobs just won't take a break. imagine being a roofer. >> job like this, no trees, right exposed to the sun. just got to take it slow and drink lots of water. >> reporter: weather experts are calling this current pattern a heat dome because of a huge area of high pressure which is compressing hot, moist air beneath it. rob and peggy? as the heat index rises, so of course does concern for the elderly. community outreach groups are trying to make it easier for older americans to cope in this stifling weather. a volunteer group in grand rapids, michigan, for example, has been pretty busy delivering fans to seniors free of charge to keep themem safer, not to mention a little cooler. good for them. they need help, especially vulnerable. >> this is serious heat, we're not messing around with these temps.
2:34 am
let's take a look at the weather right now, see what it's going to look like. we do have some hail, dangerous winds and dangerous downpours around omaha, kansas city, des moines, chicago, and northern new england. thunderstorms from nashville to new orleans and to the carolinas. showers in the pacific northwest and rain in the rockies. >> 84 in billings. 93 in colorado springs. 107 in phoenix. nearly 90 in the twin cities and omaha. look at all the 90s here in dallas, kansas city, and atlanta. here in the northeast, 91 in new york. 94 in boston. 90s up and down, another hot one. >> keep it cool, it's going to be hot. also hot, politics. our abc news/"washington post" poll has been released this morning. it does show that president obama has been pulling ahead of his closest gop competitor. 51% said that they would pick the president over republican candidate mitt romney. in june those two were in a dead heat. republican-leaning voters were asked which candidate could beat the president next year? 32% said romney. just 7% picked michele bachmann.
2:35 am
talks to resolve the debt crisis continue behind closed doors. the president now says he is willing to accept a short-term increase in government borrowing limits. >> but that would be only if both sides reach agreements. and also they need a few extra days to get that legislation passed. abc's john hendren is following the latest developments. good morning, john. >> reporter: good morning, rob and peggy. it is another day that begins without an agreement on the nation's credit limit. but president obama says it could be different. president obama says if washington were more civil, crises like the debt debacle on capitol hill would be rarer. >> i do think that the slash and burn, take no prisoners, no compromise no matter what approach to politics is one of the reasons why congress has such a difficult time getting things done. >> reporter: in anannterview with abc's los angeles affiliate kabc, president obama says he still has hopes for changing the tone in the capital. >> the way we run campaigns these days, the language that's used, the demonization of the
2:36 am
other side, i think that has broken down some of that trust here in washington. but the american people expect us to rebuild it. >> reporter: that message doesn't seem to have reached capitol hill where tempers, especially democratic tempers, are flaring. >> america no longer has a two-party system. one of our two parties has morphed into a kind of a cult. >> this is a colossal waste of time. >> what a sham. what a scam. >> reporter: with less than two weeks to go until the government runs out of money on august 2nd, the white house meetings and hope for an 11th hour deal continue. in the west wing and at the capitol, many are pinning their hopes on the gang of six. that bipartisan group of senators they hope will come up with a plan to cut the deficit by $4 trillion and raise the naon's credit limit. rob and peggy? the government is warning about the possibility of terrorism at the nation's utilities, including chemical plants and oil r rineries.
2:37 am
a new report says al qaeda-linked extremists have been hired inside some of those facilities to actually work there. it also says that outsiders have attempted to solicit employees for damaging physical and cyber attacks. the army psychiatrist charged in the ft. hood shootings will face a military trial in march of next year. nidal hasan was arraigned at a military court in texas on 13 counts of murder and 32 counts of attempted murder. he did not enter a plea and it's still not clear if he ever will. hasan dismissed his civilian attorney because he wants three military lawyers to represent him instead. media mogul rupert murdoch is back in the u.s. this morning after testifying about the phone-hacking scandal in london. the british prime minister then took murdoch's place. abc's jeffrey kofman reports about the tense questioning. >> reporter: the british. they are so polite. except when it comes to politics. >> the reply that he sent -- >> reporter: that's david cameron, the british prime minister. >> you know -- aah -- >> reporter: facing 138
2:38 am
withering questions from the opposition. >> he just doesn't get it. >> rorter: no american president gets subjected to a verbal pounding like this. >> he should apologize for the catastrophic error of judgment he made. >>eporter: the issue, is cameron too close to rupert murdoch and his now-tainted company? >> it shows my staff behaved entirely properly. [ jeering ] >> reporter: they call this a debate. >> order! >> reporter: but to the speaker of the house, it is, well, childish. >> calm themselves, keep on an even keel, it's bebeer for their health and the house. >> reporter: this scandal may not seem like a big deal from afar but it's already left the prime minister scrambling, the head of scotland yard has resigned, and a scathing parliamentary report accuses rupert murdoch's company of deliberately trying to thwart a criminal investigation into the illegal activities of his newspaper here. >> isn't it time that we sent this non-taxpaying murdoch back from whence he came?
2:39 am
>> reporter: the prime minister didn't have to. murdoch boarded his private jet to fly home to the u.s. no doubt happy to leave london jeffrey kofman, abc news, ind. london. >> certainly n n over yet though as this continues to grow and we're investigating issues here. people, perhaps 9/11 victims, who might have had their cell phones hacked. >> it's scary. i don't know how things get done in the british parliament, judging by the atmosphere there. and the number two, headlines in australia this morning, now that country may be stepping into the investigation to see if phone hacking occurred on their turf. so this thing's snowballing out of control. >> that's for sure. agreed. although you can just hop in yourur private jet and head hom a busy miami sidewalk is not exactly where you'd expect to see a slithering boa constrictor. >> but there it was, five feet long in all its glory. the city's'sntivenom unit moved in and scooped the thing u up. officers say the reptile turned out to be pretty friendly and more importantly, nonvenomous.
2:40 am
>> yeah, that's the part that i liked. this kind of snake if you can believe it is native to madagascar. animal control officials believe it's a lost pet. the snake didn't have a microchip. apparently you can microchip your snake. didn't know that. finding an owner could be a challenge. animal control officers plan to take care of that snake for now. if you live in a tiny apartment and you have a snake that should be in madagascar, maybe that's not the best idea. >> all the ribbing you give me for not being a pet person, how do you feel about that snake? would you take that in? >> i didn't say get a boa constrictor. get a cuddly puppy. >> you wouldn't bring it into your house and feed it? >> take care of it, put it somewhere it feels more comfortable instead of the sidewalk. >> maybe, we'll see. good luck, dude. more "world news now" coming up after the break. you go next if you had a hehehehere would
2:41 am
hoveround power chair? the statue of liberty? the grgrd canyon? it's all possible ith a hoveround., tom: hi i'm tom kruse, inventor rand founder of hoveround., when we say you're free to see the world, we mean it. call today and get a free overound information kit, that includes a video and full color brochure. dennis celorie: "it's by far the best chair i've ever owned." terri: "last year, 9 out of 10 people got their hoveround for "little or no money." jim plunkitt: "no cost. absolutely no cost to me." breaking news...when you call today, we'll include a free hoveround collapsible grabber with the purchase of your power chair. it reaches, it grabs, it's collapsible and it's portable. it goes wherever you go. get it free while supplies last. call the number on your screen to get your free video, brochure and your free hoveround collapsible grabber. call the number on your screen. that's what people could say
2:42 am
if you're still using a iquid foundation that can settle into your lines and wrnkles and make you look older. covergirl and olay floats above lines and makes you look younger. can your anti-aging makeup do that? simply ageless from olay and easy, breezy beautiful, covergirl.
2:43 am
2:44 am
for many of us retirement is a long way off. to plan for the inevitable all you have to do is ask your boss one simple question. >> that's right, it's a question today's retirees are asking as well. abc's claire shipman has more. >> reporter: grant offterhar reveling in the traditional perks of retirement. travel. the time with his family. volunteer work. but here's another very modern picture of his golden years. he's actually still at work. >> i don't ever think i will retire completely. >> reporter: you'll never retire? >> i'm a scientist. i have been all my life. >> reporter: grant is lucky. a ph.d. in atmospheric science, he works for aerospace, a company that supports nasa programs and one that's investing heavily in a new trend -- bridge jobs. part-time jobs that allow employees to ease into retirement. so the company is so smart now, the company's realized we don't
2:45 am
want to lose these brains. >> we don't want to lose these brains. in fact, that's what we provide to the government. >> reporter: and grant is continuing to use his, working 10 to 20 hours a week on projects or guiding colleagues. >> intellectually, i want to stay active. >> reporter: in fact, 80% of boomers say when retirement day comes, they'll still be on the job. in some cases because they want to be. in many cases because they have to be. and experts say that bridge jobs can help with another issue. 73% of boomers claim social security before they're 65, and look at the math. if you're 62 years old earning $60,000 a year, you'd get $1,126 a month. if you wait until you're 70, $2,123 a month. but waiting can be hard on the human psyche. >> if i say to you, would you like $1 today or $3 a year from now? most people say, i want $1 today. >> reporter: bridge jobs may make that delayed gratification
2:46 am
possible. grant, for one, applauds the opportunity. >> i am very happy. i made the right decision to go ahead and stop the full-time work and move to this casual program. it's just a wonderful transition for me and i feel real good d about it. >> reporter: claire shipman, abc news, washington. >> we have a great chat going on about this now. wnnfans.com. some people are saying i'm going to end up having to work until i'm 70. some people are saying 80. some people are e sting their resources and what they can do. other people are saying, call me, i'm looking to hire. >> we're making magic here on facebook. it's our question of the day. >> head on over there. >> that guy's right. obviously it's tempting to wait until you have more money. but after you spend 35, 45 years in the workforce, you want to get out, you've earned it. >> everybody wonders what will happen to social security, lots of questions there. make sure to pop by the website, check it out. >> absolutely. coming up next -- the interview question that really kind of ticked off paris
2:47 am
hilton. >> she didn't like this, not one bit. it upset her so much she walked away from the interview. it was quite a moment, that's coming up.
2:48 am
time now for our -- ready -- favorite story of the day. there you go. say it and they do the stamp. we'll get it down. >> eventually. >> one of these days. >> paris hilton is not known -- is known to use the word hot to describe things she likes. always says it. >> yes. things got a little too hot for the reality star during an interview with abc's dan harris. take a look. >> reporter: paris hilton was the first, the original celebutante, practically the inventor of that thoroughly modern phenomenon, being famous for being famous. now, though, this particular marketplace has become rather crowded with people like hilton's former protege and sometimes frenemy, kim kardashian, eating up a lot of the oxygen. try bringing any of this up with hilton, however, and things get a littleleense.
2:49 am
do you ever worry about your moment having passed? do you want to wrap up? we'll show you how this situation resolved itself in a moment. but first, let's go back to the beginning of our interview, which took place at hilton's newly renovated house in los angeles. >> can we move the cat away? >> is it a disisaction? >> reporter: things started on a playful note with no fewer than three interruptions from one or another of her 17 house pets. hilton is actually the head of a global business with stores in 31 countries, selling everything from handbags to beauty products to perfumes. she's got 13 scents which, according to her publicists, have made more than $1 billion. y do you work so hard? >> i like being able to do whatever i want, to buy whatever i want, and to not have to ask for permission from my parents like i've seen from my other friends who -- they're adults but they live like children.
2:50 am
>> reporter: but while hilton, who turned 30 in february, is eager to show the world that she's a grownup now, her new reality show "the world according to paris" on the oxygen network shows her engaged in her usual high jinks. inhabiting an ecosystem where paparazzi are as omnipresent as pigeons in manhattan, where shopping is the dominant form of hunting and gathering. and where assistants are treated as a subspecies. >> where is my other boxes, lexi? >> reporter: the show does have some serious, even searing scenes. >> and you are my first baby. >> reporter: but while it has revealing moments, the ratings have been dismal. which has many entertainment writers asking whether hilton's run, which started at age 16, may now be over. do you worry at times that the people who have followed in your footsteps, like kim kardashian, are overshadowing you? >> no, not at all. >> reporter: thehe's been some talk about the ratings in the show being low. has that upset you? >> no.
2:51 am
>> reporter: never a feeling of, do you ever worry about -- do you ever worry about your moment having passed? do you want to wrap up? >> i was curious about one thing -- >> reporter: what followed was a long, heated conversation with hilton and her publicist. >> well, i don't want all this being used -- >> reporter: after which she agreed to speak with me again. >> i've been in this business for 15 years now. so it's been a very long time. and just like any other business person or someone in industry, it's always important to reinvent yourself and come up with new projects. >> reporter: that's an entire house filled with dogs? by the end of our time together hilton seemed to have cooled down. she showed me her massive doghouse. >> it's basically a replica of my house. inside is moldings and furniture and a chandelier and lighting and heat and air conditioning. >> reporter: and even sent me off with a hug. >> thanks for having us. >> thank you. >> she obviously did not like some of the lines of questioning there. >> all fair questions -- oh.
2:52 am
peggy in a former life. ♪
2:53 am
2:54 am
[ sponge ] okay, team. time to tackle these greasy dishes. we're facing some toug opposition today. i'm gonna need my biggest player. a change in the lineup? that little squirt? [ cheers and applause ] [ female announcer ] one bobole of ultra dawn has the grease-cleaning power of two of the leading non-oncentrated brand, giving you double the cleaning ingredients in every drop. [ sponge ] way to go, kid. you really knocked the grease out of them. [ female announcer ] dawn does more... [ sponge ] so it's not a chore. now with stayfree you don't have to worry. inspired by athletic wear,
2:55 am
only stayfree has thermocontrol to wick away moisture. so you're dry and comfortable up to 8 hours. stayfree. >> announcer: this is an abc news special report. and good morning to you. i'm josh elliott. we're interrupting programming to bring you live coverage of the landing of space shuttle "atlantis." this historic moment will mark the end of nasa's space shuttl program after 30 years. the space shuttle due to touch down just minutes from now at kennedy space center at cape canaveral, and it is where we find abc's lisa stark, and, lisa, after some 1 million people converged on the space center a a the surrounding environs to watch it soar to the heaven, can you set the scene for us as "atlantis" makes it
2:56 am
final descent? >> reporter: josh, a couple of thousand people at the runway. this is an invitation only event. the public is not invited. former shuttle directors here, theirfamilies. they are packing the area near the runway ten deep. they have filled the grandstands. everyone has their cameras out waiting for this historic moment as the final space shuttle, "atlantis," c ces down, touches down here at the kennedy space center. it's a moment filled with a lot of pride for everything that has happened, of course, but a lot of sadness for whatt we're losing, the end of the u.s. space program, the shuttle program anyway, and who knows when we'll get back into space, so a lot of mixed emotions here this morning at the kennedy space center. >> the preflare maneuver executed.
2:57 am
landing gear down and locked. as you can see, space shuttle "atlantis," the wheelsls touchi down at kennedy space center. >> bringing to a close the mission just over two weeks in length and bringing to a close a space shuttle program 30 years in the making. this touchdown actually comes 50 years to the day that gus grissom became the second american in space aboard "liberty bell 7" and decades of inspiration is drawn from the american space program now draws to a close. it is the 135th flight in shuttle history and, again, this landing watched by a record crowd, invitatatn only of 2,000
2:58 am
there at the landing strip as they look on there and at the johnson space center in houston and with this return now, with the space program effectively shutting down, we bring back ababs lisa stark and, lisa, the bad economy has touched all parts of amemecan life and certainly nasa has felt that, the ranks of nasa have been cut back and with the close of the shuttle program, further layoffs are now in the program's future. >> reporter: absolutely, josh. a lot of the folks here will be losing their jobs. as you can imagine, they applauded and cheered for that picture-perfect landing, but as of tomorrow, 4,000 people here at the kennedy space center will be getting their pink slips. theyeyl be looking for other work, so it truly is the end of an era for a lot of people personally and really for the
2:59 am
country, the end of 30 years of this program, a lot of triumphs, a couple of tragedy, but reall it has been a remarkable program that is coming now to a clcle. >> and so "atlantis" will be remaining there at the kennedy space center as the other three orbiters in existence will make their way to parts around the country, "endeavour" h hds to los angeles to be on display at the science museum. "discovery" will head to the smithsonian outside of washington, d.c. and proelt type enterprise will come to new york to be a part of the intrepid sea, air and space museum along the hudson american. the four american astronauts returning safely command. commander chris ferguson, pilot doug hurley, sandy magnus and rex walheim awoke to the tune "godless america" and we here at abc along with all of you watching at home have watched
3:00 am
their safe return and so the end to 30 years of the space shuttle program, a historic moment to be sure. we'll return you now to regular programming in somearts o of the country, that's "world news now" or "america this morning." more on the shuttle landing here later on "good morning america." i'm josh elliott in new york. have a good day.t. it's thursday, july 21st. >> announcer: from abc news, this is "world news now." >> good morning, i'm peggy bunker. >> and i'm rob nelson. despite all the warning signs at yosemite, witnesses say a couple got a little toooolose to the rushing water and then got into trouble. another tourist then tried to help and he was also swept away. park rangers and visitors at ththis busy destination simply can't believe what happened. >> yeah, it's really amazing. of course the water levels are so high because we have this incredible winter and so
3:01 am
therefore really, really strong rushing waters. just a tragic story. >> they're not expecting to find survivors. also coming up, we're talking about campaign headaches. this morning, what a top doctor says about michele bachmann's migraines. while our news poll reveals if she has a chance in next year's presidential election. who knew that a little headache could get so much attention. but it's sort of the conversations around it that have really got people talking. >> it has. what i like the story does point out there have been other presidential and vice presidential contenders who have major, major, far more severe than migraines who have made it okay. she'll probably survive this. details coming up in just a second. on top of that later this lf hour, he played a president on tv. now actor martin sheen wants his voice heard in real life in washington, d.c. now the sheen family on many levels has had some very interesting personal lives almost overshadow their careers in some ways. martin's had his battles with addiction. we all know charlie has s t had
3:02 am
the easiest couple of months. >> he hasn't exactly been quiet, charlie. but first, the tragedy at yosemite. three college students who were visiting the park with a church group are presumed dead this morning. >> eyewitnesses say they climbed over the guardrail to take ctures when they were swept into a 300-foot waterfall. >> reporter: the mist trail leading to vernal fall is one of the most popular trails in yosemite national park. every day about 1500 people take the trek to see the spectacular views. but it was temporarily closed tuesday afternoon after park rangers say three hikers climbed over the barricade and into the water where they were swept away. >> i saw the man's eyes as he was going over the waterfall and that was devastating. >> very dangerous area. it's sigigd "danger." we have a stick figure, person in mid-air. >> reporter: 22-year-old hormiz david and his friends ninos yacoub and ramina badal ignored the signs, climbed into the water and slipped, setting off a chain reaction. >> apparently they were taking
3:03 am
photos, playing in the water. one of the males lost his footing, started to slide down. the second male tried to rescue him. and also lost his footing. then the third person, the female, did. and ununrtunately it was a chain reaction of events and all three were swept over vernal falls. >> i couldn't process why they were in the water whenen first saw it. you know, it was -- because the current was moving so fast. >> two, they were holding onto each other, and one was alone floating through the current. the reason why i looked was this woman was screaming and running along the edge of the water. >> reporter: while search and rescue crews scoured the water, searching for the hikers' bodies. visitors we talked with expressed their concerns and frustrations. >> it's just sad. when people know the water's high. and think they're not going to be the ones, it's safe out there. and it's not. >> reporter: so far this year, there have been six
3:04 am
water-related deaths in yosemite national park. in yosemite, linda mumma for abc news. >> the guy trying to help out gets swept away as well, heart-breaking. >> you think the first thing everybody should pay attention to is the rails as they were saying. especially at these parks. the priest now that knows ese people very well is praying for a quick recovery their bodies. that's what everybody will be looking for when daybreak comes this morning. they'll be looking very closely. >> they had a vigil last night as well to remember those victims. shifting gears now, on the east coast, an equally scary spill into rushing waters has a much happier ending thanks to a tour boat crew. a woman hiking near the whirlpool rapids in niagara falls reached down to touch the swirling water then fell in. witnesses say she disappeared then under the water but later resurfaced. she was eventually rescued by a tour boat crew who used cpr to revive her. happy ending. >> definitely. with the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks just a couple of months away here, abc news has learned that thousands of chemical and nuclear plants are being warned about a possible al qaeda attack. the report comes from the
3:05 am
department of homeland security. it warns utilities about would-be terrorists who have been hired to work inside the facilities. there are also some serious implications. >> there are a lot of very sensitive facilities where someone could get a job on the inside, can get access to a control room, flip a switch, which causes an electric power grid to short circuit, caused a pipeline to explode. >> can you imagine that. as an example, officials point to an attempt by a worker to sabotage a water treatment plant. that happened in arizona earlier this year. >> what kind of background checks are going on. turning to politics now. in our abc news/"washington post" poll just released shows the president now pulling ahead of his closest gop competitor. 51% said they'd pick president obama over republican n ndidate mitt romney. in june they were tied. republican-leaning voters were asked which candidate could beat the president next year. 32% said romney. just 7% picked michele bachmann. > ere are also still
3:06 am
questions about michele bachmann's migraines and whether this should be considered a cacaaign issue. as abc's jonathan karl reports the congressional doctor is providing new details. >> reporter: the letter from the top doctor in congngss says bachmann has had extensive evaluation. your migraines occur infrequently. when you do have a migraine, you are able to control it well with medication. the issue was first raised monday by the conservative daily caller website which quoted anonymous sources saying bachmann frequently suffers from ininpacitating headaches. she was still facing questions about the report. >> well, we had released a statement on this issue and the focus that i've had again is on the fact that, as commander in chief, i'm going to make sure that we get our fiscal house in order. >> reporter: bachmann acknowledges occasional migraines. her campaign points out her packed schedule hasn't been affected a bit. but tim pawlenty, the republican candidate most threatened by bachmann's rise, pounced on the report. >> going to be president of the united states, you've got to be
3:07 am
able to do the job, every day, all the time. therers no real time off in that job. >> reporter: the issue has touched off a furious debate, especially because migraines are more common among women. >> what's next? menstrual cramps, hot flashes? >> reporter: bachmann's health issues seem to pale in comparison to others. john mccain battled cancer. joe biden had brain aneurysms. dick cheney already had three heart attacks when he ran. but they all had to answer questions. brian ross was blocked by bachmann's staff when he asked if the headaches affected her job performance. >> have you ever had to step down because of her migraines? can you answer that question for the american people? >> reporter: bachmann's friend and fellow congressman steve king told abc news "topline" that she is fit enough for the job. >> i think if you would watch her public appearances and see how she performs in each one of them, there would be no clue of such a thing in her public appearances. >> reporter: there's no law requiring presidential candidates to reveal anything about their medical histories. but if past practice is any guide, from the last several
3:08 am
presidential campaignsnswhoever the republican nominee is this time around will be expected to release extensive medical records. jonathan karl, abc news, capitol hill. >> well, it's true that we have had political leaders who have had very serious health issues that sometimes the public never even knew about because they kept a lid on it. but then again this is something that seems to be gaining steam. what's the harm in answering the question? has the migraine ever kept you from work? >> we'll see if she does. jon karl says he follows her closely on the campaign trail and no one works harder or more vigorously out there. so far, so good. other news now, the postmaster general is pushing now to cut back mail delivery to just five days a week. he says the post offffe lost $8 billion last year and is on track for a similar loss this year. that's because mail volume is down mostly because of people using the internet for letters and to pay their bills. it is a bittersweet morning for nasa astronauts and crew members as the final shuttle mission comes to an end.
3:09 am
it's the end of the historic shuttle program that dates back to the 1980s. while the crew says gogo-bye to the shuttle, many nasa employees ll be saying good-bye to their jobs. >> reporter: on their last full day aboard the space shuttle "atlantis" the crew practiced landings on a computer laptop, peered out the windows and read poetry. the men on the ground who will lead "atlantis" back through the landing said thursday morning would be tough. >> i don't think you'd be human if you didn't feel something. every time you feel something you have to remember this thing's not over yet. >> reporter: as the crew prepared for the return home nasa and local officials from the surrounding areas said they were not expecting the massive crowds that gathered for the launch. >> it's inside the kennedy space center, it's not easy to see. this thihi comes down at such a steep angle. >> reporter: for almost 2,300 space shuttle workers, thursday will be their last day on the job. 60 days ago, layoff notices went out. and friday, they will be out the door. at the kennedy space center, kevin oliver for abc news.
3:10 am
the unrelenting heat wave making much of the country is now being blamed for nearly two dozen deaths. people in the chicago area are sweating it out in the hottest temps there in six years. as the heat index reading hit 110 in some suburbs, power outages have left thousands of suburban homeowners to cope with no ac. good luck to those folks. the elderly are getting much-needed help to stay cool in extreme heat. some organizations are handing out free fans to make them a little more comfortable. volunteers in grand rapids, michigan, delivered fans and set them up for seniors who could use a little break. >> that's for sure. i hope they're big fans. some places are going to need a good breeze there. it is pretty toasty. let's take a look at the forecast for the day right now. some strong storms with gusty winds, hail and torrential downpours in omaha, kansas city, des moines and chicago. stormy in northern new england. scattered thunderstorms from new orleans to atlanta. wet in the rockies and the pacific northwest. >> a damp 67 in seattle. 87 in salt lake city.
3:11 am
and 107 in phoenix. dallas at 98. omaha 88. detroit 96. mostly 90s all the way from boston down to miami. i love this story. for most of us it's pretty tough to get it all together to head outside for a jog. i come up with every excuse under the sun as to why i can't do it. >> that's why i never start, it's easier. there are those who need more, like juggling while jogging, which is called joggling. >> of course it is. >> at this world's champion, an arizona woman set three world records and did so in this intense heat. >> according to her website, trish evans jogged a 5k, 800 meter and 200 meter. her husband bob fell short of the men's record. >> a couple that joggles together stays together. i've always said that. >> i'll see if my husband's up for that. more "world news now" coming up right after the break. husband's up for that. >> more "world news now" coming up right after the break. hó
3:12 am
[ female announcer ] experience dual-action power,
3:13 am
with listerine® whitening plus restoring rinse. it's the only listerine® that gets teeth two shades whiter and makes tooth enamel two times stronger. get dual-action listerine® whitening rinse. building whiter, stronger teeth. now you don't have to wait 6 weeks to get it. introducing natural instincts with our first color refresher. get healthy looking, ammonia-free color, then let the new refresher boost your healthy look 2 weeks in. so you can get a freshly colored look once again. natural instincts. it's all good. now get all the healthy looking color of natural instincts in our new vibrant shades. are switching from tylenol to advil. here's one story. [ george ] my name is george. i switched to advil six months ago. i love golf. but i have knee pain, hip pain, back pain and pain in my hands.
3:14 am
advil is definitely my pain reliever of choice. it covers all, and i'm a walking testament. you may not know it to look at me, but i can dance too! [ chuckles ] [ male announcer ] make the switch. take action. take advil. [ male announcer ] make the switch. [ female announcer ] everybody loves that cushiony feeling. uh oh. i gotta go. [ female announcer ] and with charmin ultra soft, you can get that same cushiony feeling you love while still using less. charmin ultra soft has extra cushions that are soft and more absorbent. so you can use four times less versus the leading value brand. ah. [ female annououer ] using less never felt so good. we all go... why not enjoy the go with charmin ultra soft. they're itchy, dry and uncomfortable. i can't wait to take 'em out, throw 'em away and never see them again. [ male announcer ] know the feeling? get the contacts you've got to see to believe. acuvue® oasys brand contact lenses with hydraclear® plus technology, keeping your eyes exceptionally comfortable all day long.
3:15 am
it feels like it disappeared on my eye. [ male announcer ] discover why it's the brand eye doctors trust most for comfort. if you have astigmatism, there's an acuvue® oasys lens for that too, realigning naturally with every blink. ask your doctor for acuvue® oasys brand.
3:16 am
welcome back, everybody. now we turn to a bizarre custody battle that has a florida girl stuck in the m mdle. on one side is the girl's grandmother and biological father. >> yeah, pretty tough story here. on the other side is her legal father and the problem here is that he is a sex offender. and now the rightful guardian. abc's alex stone repepts. >> reporter: miranda's mother trista cruz died one month after miranda was born. she's almost 4 now and has lived with her grandmother. but her mother was married to donald coleman, a registered sex offender. coleman had to register because he married trista who was only 14 at the time, and pregnant. >> a young girl, fell in love, a thing that happened. >> reporter: coleman had been separated from the mother for
3:17 am
years after he learned that miranda was not his child. but coleman is by law considered miranda's legal guardian. >> i was absolutely appalled, very concerned for the well-being of this little girl. >> reporter: state representative janet adkins wants to change the law so it doesn't happen again. >> we will work with the department to try to figure out where the loopholes are in the law. >> reporter: miranda's biological father is not giving up. >> i want her back here with me or back with her grandma. that's all i want. i love her and daddy's going to be there for her. >> reporter: and now miranda's grandmother is appealing the court's ruling. >> the judge has gave him custody. or guardianship, whatever. how could the judge do that? >> she loves me. she always has, since she was little. just a family trying to get through life right now. >> reporter: with miranda's 4th birthday approaching, her grandmother is not sure she'll be allowed to say "happy birthday" in person.
3:18 am
alex stone, abc news. >> that is really tough. and you think, what is the best for this little girl? especially if her grandmother's really the one that she's known and who's cared for her since she was such a little girl. >> as you heard in the piece she can appeal the decision, she also can report the case to state authorities. that little girl turns 4 in just a couple of days. coming up, one of the biggest purchases in years. >> american airlines is trading up and buying nearly 500 new jets. what does this mean for passengers? we'll be right back. jets. what does this mean for passengers? we'll be right back. úú
3:19 am
big old jet airliner don't carry me too far away ♪ ♪ big old jet airliner don't
3:20 am
carry me too far away ♪ we're talking about steve miller. all right, american airlines has announced a record-breaking deal, speaking of jet airliners, they will dramatically upgrade its entire fleet which is a good thing. >> yes, it is. over the next five y yrs american will buy 460 new full-efficient jets. as cynthia vega reports, the airline has been flying the oldest planes in the skies. >> reporter: right now american airlines on average is flying some of the oldest planes of all the major carriers. but with this new historic and unprecedented deal, american airlines is now on course to fly the youngest and the most fuel-efficient planes in five years' time. >> so congratulations to all the people of american airlines. >> reporter: right alongside its partners airbus out of france and boeing, american airlines unveiled its plans to begin leasing as many as 460 new planes within two years. out on the tarmac, those new narrow-bodied planes. the new airbus a-320 and the boeing 737. inside the new 737-800, travelers will experience wider
3:21 am
cabins, larger overhead bins, and more modern lighting that can actually vary y th the time of day. for american airlines, these new fuel-efficient planes are a necessity. to fight the airline's number one operating cost, rising fuel prices. but travelers don't expect lower air fares. >> in the long run, candidly, our customers are going to have to pay for fuel just like they pay for all the other costs of delivering our product. >> reporter: you're now looking at the boeing dreamliner, a state of the art plane american airlines is also excited about bringing on board. this happening the same day american airlines' parent company amr is reporting second quarter losses of $250 million. it's hoping to turn those numbers around as it moves forward in this deal. in 2017, its next generation of fuel-efficient planes will be 30% more fuel efficient than currently. >> i think all of us would like to have new planes. not the see-through planes. you were talking about those.
3:22 am
i don't want those. >> i'll be happier with a bigger bag of peanuts. >> i'll be happier with a bigger bag of peanuts. hó
3:23 am
3:24 am
3:25 am
♪ that's "west wing" music. >> yes, it is. for very good reason. be, we conclude this half hour with this -- martin sheen is well known for his many movie and tv roles, especially "the west win" >> he also is well-known for his movement to battle addiction, a subject that obviously hits very close to home. as abc's claire shipman reports, he took that battle to capitol hill. >> reporter: he's perhaps best-known for playing a charismatic president, a moral leader. >> this is a time for american heroes and we reach for the stars. >> reporter: but martin sheen,
3:26 am
the actor, can draw big crowds in d.c. too. >> we all rise -- >> reporter: and charm senators. >> i am not a former president of the united states. though i played one on tv. >> reporter: he came to washington to testify about a subject that's profoundly personal to him. funding for the treatment of addiction. >> i've been in a 12-step program since 1989. and i give thanks and praise for that. >> reporter: while sheen himself has been clean and sober for more than two decades, it's been a wrenching year watching his son. often trying but unable to help. >> i am on a drug, it's called charlie sheen. >> reporter: though he didn't mention his son's troubles to lawmakers in this february interview with sky news, sheen talked about charlie's battle with addiction. >> he's an extraordinary man. you know, and he's -- if he had cancer, how would we treat him? you know? the disease of addiction is a form of cancer. and you have to have an equal measure of concern and love and lift them up. so that's what we do for him. >> reporter: that's the message he's brought to capitol hihi, arguing passionately against
3:27 am
funding cuts for drug courts which steer nonviolent drug offenders away from jail and into treatment. you talked very eloquently about personal experience you'd had with drug courts, people you've known, friends. >> that is the most gratifying thing is to see someone, to be rehabilitated, and to become themselves, become free. >> reporter: he was reluctant to talk openly about his son, clearly wanting to give him the space to heal privately. but you could tell his son's problems were very much on his mind. claire shipman, abc news, washington. >> back in 1996, he actually helped create this drug court system in berkeley, california, called options. these drug courts do a lot of good. 120,000 people helped every year, they say. >> the way that it works too in drug court is they combine substance abuse treatment with very close supervision in lieu of jail time. if you think about it, if you have an addiction problem, just throwing somebody in jail is probably not going to do anything in terms of rehabilitation.
3:28 am
anything in terms of rehabilitationononononononononon
3:29 am
3:30 am
this morning on "world news now," insider threat. the federal government's serious new concerns about terrorists sabotaging power plants here in the u.s. >> and also why new warnings are linked to what osama bin laden may have been planning on the tenth anniversary of 9/11. it's thursday, july 21st. >> announcer: from abc news, this is "world news now." >> and good thursday morning. i'm rob nelson. >> and i'm peggy bunker. there have been previous incidents not linked to al qaeda that show just how vulnerable power plants and water utilities can be. now you're going to see why federal agents are concerned about terrorists actually getting inside these plants. we're talking about people who actually apply and get employment at some of these facilities which can really be a threat. >> and that's what's jarring is what's going on with the background checks that these
3:31 am
folks are allowed in, potential terrorists allowed into a vulnerable infrastructure like that. a lot of questions about that, and scary as we get closer to the 9/11 anniversary. also ahead in this half hour, the shark attack that happened along a north carolina beach. a 6-year-old girl was the victim. she was in water that was only 1 1/2 feet deep. every summer we see these stories. we can't get around it. shark attacks every year. >> 1 1/2 feet deep. that's where you stand if you're afraid of sharks and you're terrified of something like that, you stay right there and that's where it happened. her parents right there, saw the whole thing. >> so scary. also coming up this morning in this half hour, she saved her billionaire husband from a shaving cream pie. we've all seen this now. of course, now, wendi deng is a sudden worldwide sensation. would your spouse do the same thing? that's the question. >> would you jump up to save your man? >> i'd like to think that i would do the exact same thing with as much vigor. in fact, trying to hit that guy so hard that you fall over. >> you have a fight streak in you? >> i think have a pretty good right hook. >> you could rough somebody up? >> if somebody got under my skin like that.
3:32 am
>> we'll go out to the parking lot after the show. >> i'll give it a go. the warning now going out to power plants and nuclear facilities nationwide. >> would-be terrorists have already been successful in getting jobs inside those plants. abc's chief f vestigative correspondent brian ross reveal the disturbing new possibilities. >> reporter: u.s. security analysts say sabotage by an insider at a major utility could provide al qaeda with its best opportunity for the kind of massive 9/11 anniversary attack osama bin laden was planning. >> the only way you can actually kill the large-scale number of americans that he literally was calculating was through the use of these -- of this critical infrastructure. >> reporter: a new intelligence report from the department of homeland security issued just tuesday, called insider threat to utilities, warns violent extremists have, in fact, obtained insider positions. >> there are a lot of very sensitive facilities where someone could get a job on the inside, can get access to a control room, flip a switch, which causes an electric power
3:33 am
grid to short circuit, causes a pipeline to explode. >> reporter: the u.s. was stunned last year in yemen after the arrest of an alleged american recruit to al qaeda, sharif mobley of new jersey, who it turned out had been employed at five different u.s. nuclear power plants in and around pennsylvania, able to pass federal background checks. >> if someone were determined and had the right access, the amount of damage that they could inflict could affect thousands of lives. >> reporter: the possible impact of insider sabotage was made clear earlier this year in mesa, arizona, at a water treatment plant. >> i have basically taken the plant hostage. >> reporter: officiaia say a disgruntled night shift worker took over the control room and tried to create a giant methane gas explosion. there was no tie to al qaeda and his alleged plot failed. but officials say it highlights how easily one insider in the right place could create mayhem. al qaeda has already put out the word in its online magazine
3:34 am
called "inspire" looking for "brothers who work in sensitive locations." the department of homeland security says there's no specific threat information right now but between now and 9/11, no doubt they'll very much be on guard. brian ross, abc news, new york. and in related news now, the tsa is installing new technology in some airports with passengers' privacy in mind. the new scanners will show only a generic outline of a person's body instead of the image of a naked body. it will be used in about 40 major airports. the old technology had outraged somemeassengers as well as some privacy advocates. the parents of a little girl attacked by a shark along north carolina's outer banks say that she's in good condition this morning. but they're still recovering from the nightmare of witnessing the actual attack in shallow water. abc's steve osunsami reports now from ocracoke island. >> reporter: it was late in the afternoon. the young girl swimming with her father in just 1 1/2 feet of water riding on a boogie board
3:35 am
when witnesses say the shark struck, seriously wounding her leg. >> the mother yellededhat the child had been apparently bit by what appeared to be a shark. >> reporter: the 6-year-old suffered wounds to her calf and foot. they were severe enough that emergency personnel airlifted her to the only trauma hospital in the area, nearly two hours away. she was losing blood but made it there alive. if authorities confirm this is a shark attack, it will be the 13th in the u.s. so far this year. none of them have been fatal, but in 2010, there were two deaths in 36 attacks. earlier this month, carolyn cartwright's 10-year-old daughter cassidy was bitten by a shark on another beach in north carolina. >> when they pulled her out of the water her leg was wide open. and it was just -- a lot of blood. >> reporter: cassidy survived her encounter, which also happened in shallow water. an attack in water only 1 1/2 feet deep seems unusual but most attacks occur close to shore where sharks like to feed. with millions of people sharing the same shallow waters shark experts say it's inevitable
3:36 am
there will be attacks. what can you do to reduce the risks? swim in groups and avoid swimming or playing in the water during the early evening or nighttime. there's a good reason to swim in groups. experts say that sharks like most predators go after victims that are alone. steve osunsami, abc news, surf city, north carolina. >> a lot of good tips. >> yes, definitely. also sometimes they say the boogie board, they mistake the swimmer for maybe a turtle or a seal if you have a wet suit on. that sort of thing. >> you'd never think it could happen in shallow water like that. that's the scary part. >> very scary. anyway, she said that -- she told her parents she doesn't like sharks, she does like dolphins a lot better. >> good call. good call. now to india where a frightened and hissing leopard mauled 11 villagers before it wawacornered and killed. at one point the big cat bared its fangs and leapt through the air, tackling a man and knocking him down. the leopard held its ground against wildlife officials carrying batons and tranquilizer guns. finally villagers managed to beat back the cat using knives stones and batons.
3:37 am
>> you always tease me for not liking animals. 200 million americans are bracing for another day of blistering heat and humidity now blamed for nearly two dozen deaths. today's danger zone spans two dozen states from the plains to the east coast. abc's matt gutman is in chicago where conditions there have been downright unbearable. >> reporter: chicago's being called an urban heat island. the blazing sun and merciless humidity are cooking this city. >> it's serious out here. >> reporter: it was also torturous across half the country and dangerous. in chicago the heat index of 110 degrees stirred memories of 1995, when a heat wave here killed over 700 people. in these conditions, the body even at rest can lose a a art of fluid an hour. and for every degree that a person's core temperature rises, the heart goes 15 beats faster per minute. that can cause serious cardiac stress. at what body core temperature do you stop sweating? >> you stop sweating, i believe,
3:38 am
around 103, 104. so you start getting -- at that point the body's really starting to shut down. >> reporter: and your body literally begins to cook. >> if you don't get medical care, someone could die within half an hour. >> reporter: the first warning sign is when you stop sweating the others include headache, dizziness, nausea. so we went around chicago to find out how much risk people were putting themselves in. 100.6. >> 100.6 like i'm running a temperature. >> you're running a bit of a temperature. not much, you're at 99 degrees. >> reporter: doctors are experimenting with a new weapon in the battle against heat. these hypothermal blankets which funnel cool water over the body. every year between 300 to 400 americans die because of the heat. at the hospital, they told us that it's relatively easy and low-tech to treat. they use wet towels, put it on people's bodies. spritzers to cool them down and get them wet. and packs of ice in the armpits.
3:39 am
there are things that almost everybody has at home. matt gutman, abc news, chicago. >> matt's got to be hot out there, too, jeans on, the shirt. >> i was wondering in that heat. get that man some shorts. whoo. let's take a look at your thursday forecast. we have some heavy rain, hail, and 70-mile-an-hour winds from kansas city to chicago and portland, maine, and some pop-up thunderstorms around south florida and atlanta, the carolinas, nashville and new orleans. another wet day for much of new mexico and colorado. >> okay, we're also looking at 91 degrees in albuquerque and 94 in sacramento. upper 80s from fargo to omaha. 96 in indianapolis. a sticky 91 here in new york. boy, it feels it too. more 90s in baltimore and miami. december might be months away but it t beginning to look a lot like christmas in denmark. >> how about that. this is where santa is going to be, as you can see. we're talking about some jolly st. nicks from around the globe. they met there for the annual santa congress. >> very cool. teams of santas took part in a series of competitions including gift tossing, an obstacle course, and even a bumper car race.
3:40 am
>> how about that. in the end, team denmark bagged the coveted best santa team trophy. no word yet if that trophy comes with milk and cookies. >> i'm sure it does. >> got to leave that for santa. there is no santa, by the way. i don't knowowf you know that. >> what if there's young children watching, peggy? more "world news now" when we come back. that was cruel. that was cruel. let me tell you about a very important phone call i made. when i got my medicare card, i realized i needed an aarp... medicare supplement nsurance card, too. medicare is one of the great things about turning 65, but it doesn't cover everything. in fact, it only pays up to " 80% of your part b expenens.
3:41 am
if you're already on or eligible for medicare, call now to find out how an aarp... ininred by unitedhealthcare insurance company, not paid by medicare part b. that can save you from paying .up to thousands of dollars... out of your own pocket. these are the only medicare supplement insurance plans... exclusively endorsed by aarp. with all you need to enroll. put their trust in aarp p medicare supplement insuranc. plus you'll get this free guide to understanding medicare. the prices are competitive. i can keep my own doctor. and i don't need a referral o see a specialist. call now to get a free information kit. plus you'll get this free guide to understanding medicare. and the advantages don't end there. choose from a range of medicare r supplement plans... that are all competitively priced. we have a plan for almost everyone, so you can find one that fits r your needs and budget. with all medicare supplement plans,
3:42 am
there are virtually p no claim forms to fill out. plus you can keep that accepts medicare. p your own doctor and hospital and best of all, these plans are... when they told me these plans were endorsed by aarp... i had only one thing to say... sign me up. and find out about an aarp medicare supplement insurance plan. you'll get this free information kit... as with all medicare supplement plans, you can keep your own doctor and hospital that accepts # medicare, call this toll-free number now.
3:43 am
well, to many they were the epitome of evil. we're talking about two adorable little girls. but they were singing songngof hate. and that was about five years ago. >> that's right.
3:44 am
but now the former neo-nazis say who and what they were was a mistake. and as abc's juju chang reports, they now have some new beliefs. ♪ white survival strike force >> reporter: who could forget these young, blonde-haired, blue-eyed darlings. we first introduced you to twins lamb and lynx five years ago. the young budding pop stars had released their secononalbum. but these adorable freckle-faced twins weren't singing songs of love but songs of hate. ♪ a holy creed of racial purpose is a mighty race to defend ♪ >> reporter: but now at age 19, the young duo formerly known as prussian blue say they've changed their neo-nazi ways. saying to abc news, "i'm grown up now. i was a little kid back then and said a lot of things i don't believe in now." the girls say moving to montana and attending public school has truly opened their eyes and given them new perspectives on life. "my sister and i were home-schooled.
3:45 am
we were these country bumpkins. it makes me proud of humanity every day that we have so many different places and people." it's a far cry from a then-14-year-old lynx who shuddered at the thought of diversity. >> we don't want it. just be a big muddle. we just want to preserve our race. >> reporter: the twins say they're quite liberal now, embracing medical marijuana after lynx was diagnosed with cancer freshman year andndamb sought relief from back pain and scoliosis. for lynx and lamb, grooming into white supremacy started at birth. they were nurtured on racist beliefs by their mother april gaede, who is unapologetic about her parenting and her beliefs. >> we were christians, they would be singing christian rock songs. but we're not, we're white nationalists. so of course that's a part of our life and i'm'm- i share that children. life with my >> reporter: but today, april believes the girls are just falling into peer pressure. they're saying what everyone wants to hear so they won't be harassed anymore. let's face it, it's not popular to be a white separatist.
3:46 am
and they want to be popular. the girls, however, say this is who they are. and that time, experience, and love has changed them for the better. lamb says, we just want to come from a place of light and love. i think we're meant to do something more. we're healers. we just want to exert the most love and positivity we can. >> you have to worry about backlash. they're saying there's dangerous people in white nationalism, they would do awful things to people who they think betrayed the movement. they're worried about some backlash. >> it definitely goes to show that when you grow up and start to develop your own ideas about things as opposed totoeing little girls who were maybe doing what they were told and getting involved in something they didn't understand the full scope of. >> the strong influence of parenting and the strong influence of life once you get out of that bubble. deep story. we'll lighten the mood a little bit when we come back. we need to. coming up, the "grey's anatomy" star and why he's going to rehab for just a week. >> does that work, just one week, git'er done? >> i don't know, fast food rehab. also a big stink, so to
3:47 am
speak, involving britney spears. good thing "the skinny" is not airing on smell-o-vision. k, involving britney spears. good thing "the skinny" is not airing on smell-o-vision. to speak, involving britney spears. good thing "the skinny" is not airing on smell-o-vision.
3:48 am
3:49 am
♪ skinny, so skinny and time now for "the skinny" this morning. starting off "the skinny" with a little steamy. we're talking about mcsteamy. >> sorry, lalaes. sorry. >> first there was mcdreamy and of course eric dane who is known as mcsteamy for obvious reasons because he's super-hot. he apparently has a problem with painkillers. is it hot in here? here he is right there. there's mcsteamy right now. he's going to go to rehab for one week. he's taking some time off while they are not shooting the show "grey's anatomy." he's going to get help with painkillers which a lot of the country has an issue with painkillers. it's a big issue. >> massive issue, yeah. >> it's a really big issue. so he's going to an l.a. rehab clinic. he s ss that he's checked himself in to help himself get off the pain medication that he injury that he suffered on hiatus. >> just a week? i didn't know you could specify
3:50 am
going into rehab how long it would take -- i thought when you're good you can get back out. now i need to be out by saturday, going to vegas. >> fix me and send me home in about 20 minutes. that would be nice. drive-through rehab, perhaps. >> the hollywood way. we've all talked about the messy split between j. lo and marc anthony. >> much speculation. >> a lot of details starting to spill out now. the interesting thing here is that j. lo's mom, according to "us weekly," guadalupe rodriguez actually reached out to guess who, j. lo's former r ance ben affleck. apparently, mom was always very fond of ben and reached out to him over e-mail. this is what multiple sources have told "us weekly." sources say she wanted advice for jennifer. she always liked and trusted ben. he replied back in an e-mail, wished her well, offered what he could. the messy details coming out about the marriage really making marc anthony look bad. saying he was jealous and controlling, heated fights, just messy. and now it's over. but mom reaching out to the ex-man which is an interesting move. >> i have no inside scoop on this but i would be really mad if my mom were to e-mail an ex and say -- i would imagine that would make me very upset.
3:51 am
as you're saying, we're hearing j. lo is very upset. >> ben didn't know. you know what i mean? >> does guadalupe know ben's married and has two kids? >> everybody's moved on. let's talk about britney. we haven't talked about britney in quite a long time. apparently there's a stinky problem going on with britney spears. earlier today, one of britney's formerly employed bodyguards has released a statement saying basically she was completely lewd and unhygienic in front of him, very disturbing for this person. specifically, he's alleging she blatantly picked her nose, refused to shower sometimes for three to four days at a time, did not brush her teeth, also had a big flatulence problem. >> you're so polite, so polite. poor britney, man, leave britney alone, everybody gets a little gassy. >> remember when she went to the gas station with no shoes on in the bathroom? >> that was a low point. all right. real quick here. william and kate were doing their whirlwind north american tour. apparently they flew home on
3:52 am
british airways, public flight, and they got reimbursed 300 bucks because their entertainment system actually broke during the flight. theyeyot reimbursed 300 bucks. he money. sheet or bar? how do you ge?
3:53 am
3:54 am
oh, i'm a forgetter. i tend to forget things all the time. so, i'm a bar person. i don't need to remember the dryer sheet, so if i forget, i'm still good. woman: (shouting) remember the bar! woohoo! whoa. haircolor is a chore no more! you gotta come see what's new. c'mon! tadaaa! welcome to haircolor heaven. aa-ah-ahhh! courtesy of new nice 'n easy colorblend foam. permanent, dimensional color, now in a delightful foam! just three shakes, foam it, love it! simply saturate hair root to tip, front to back. with tones and highlights. it's foamtastic!
3:55 am
home haircolor, make room for foam haircolor! new nice 'n easy colorblend foam. your right color. here are some stories to watch today on abc news. espn is reporting that the nfl labor deal could be approved very soon. it would take a majority vote of the players to ratify the deal and that could happen as soon as today. recovery crews at yosemite national park will return to the raging river near a waterfall to search for three missing tourists. they were swept away when they got too close to that waterfall. >> and as the final shuttle mission comes to a close at kennedy space center, it will be a bittersweet moment for nasa. as "atlantis" lands and astronauts say good-bye, many laid-off workers will also be saying good-bye to their jobs. >> end of an era that's happening this morning. we will be watching that closely. finally, before this week, wendi deng was just known as the wife of billionaire rupert murdoch.
3:56 am
but that was before the smack heard round the world. >> she's quick, man. >> she used to play volleyball, we can tell. >> she spiked that dude. now she is a global sensation for taking a swing at her husband's would-be attacker. is it something every spouse would do? with the answer here is abc's bianna golodryga. >> reporter: who needs a bodyguard when your wife can do this? the shaving cream pie rocketing straight for billionaire rupert murdoch's head. his wife to the rescue. the right hook seen around the world. she was even faster than the police officer. you can see him running in on your right. jimmy kimmel with a different angle. the wife beating everyone, from the queen to spongebob, to the hamburglar. laughing aside, don't mess with her. 38 years his junior, rupert murdoch's third wife is a former volleyball champ. even late night imagining what else she's capable of. and today across america, the inevitable question.
3:57 am
would your wife do the same? >> she would take a pie for me and not rupert murdoch. i'm good with that. >> i don't know if i would freeze or maybe my automatic reaction would be to defend him. >> i think she should protect me, you know? >> reporter: are you offended? >> a little bit. >> reporter: if this was your kid or even a pair of nice shoes? what do you think? >> you brought in the nice shoes. of course i'd go and defend them. >> reporter: the wives who would are flocking to facebook by the thousands. wendi has a new fan club page growing almost as fast as her right hook. bianna golodryga, abc news, new york. >> she's famously known for the right hook. also she came over as a young student and lived with a family that took her in to teach her english and ended up marrying the husband in that family. she does have a past. >> they have two daughters together, wendi and murdoch. 10 and 8 years old, two kids. his divorce from his second wife cost him almost $2 billion, the most expensive divorce on record. >> how about?
3:58 am
medicare. it doesn't cover everything. and what it doesn't cover can cost you some money. that's why you should consider an aarp... medicare supplement insurance plan... insured by unitedhealthcare insurance company. all medicare supplement insurance plans can help pay... some of what medicare doesn't, so you could save... thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket expenses. call now for this free information kit and medicare guide. if you're turning 65 or you're already on medicare... you should know about this card --
3:59 am
it's the only one of its kind endorsed by aarp; see if it's right for you. all medicare supplement plans let you keep your own doctor, or hospital that accepts medicare. there are no networks and no referrals needed. help protect yourself from some of what medicare doesn't pay... and save up to thousands of dollars in potential... out-of-pocket expenses with an aarp... medicare supplement insurance plan... insured by unitedhealthcare insurance company. call this toll-free number on your screen now... for this free information kit, including this... medicare guide and customized rate quote.

349 Views

info Stream Only

Uploaded by TV Archive on